Armenian President’s oncoming visit to US triggers internal political discussions

PanARMENIAN.Net - “Turks refuse to acknowledge the 1915 events as Genocide but this is not an issue for Ankara to decide,” Armenian leader stated. “Threats to exile illegal Armenian migrants are not new; they awaken my nation’s bitter memories about the Genocide. The international community - the US, Europe and specifically Germany, all the countries involved in the process of the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation - should publicly express their position on the issue. Worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide could prevent Turkish officials from making such statements. Meanwhile, protest actions organized by youth representatives in Turkey inspire with hope. A new generation is growing up there, and the political leadership shall take into consideration its opinion,” the RA President noted.

Mr. Sargsyan also said that a historical commission cannot work impartially, if people are persecuted and condemned for the use of term Genocide in Turkey. “It is important for Ankara to prolong the process of decision-making. This way, when parliaments or governments of other countries try to adopt Genocide resolutions, Turkey will be able to say: ‘do not interfere, look, our historians are solving these issues’. Creation of such commission would mean questioning the fact of the Genocide perpetrated against our people. It is unacceptable for us. The establishment of such a commission would have been reasonable, if Turkey admitted its guilt. In such case, historians could jointly study the reasons, which had resulted in this tragedy. Armenian Genocide recognition is an issue of historical justice and our national security. The best way to prevent repetition of this horrible crime is its condemnation. At the same time, Turkey is scared by possible territorial claims and indemnity obligations. Nobody can deprive us of Ararat, which is in our hearts. You will definitely find a picture of Ararat in the house of any Armenian living in any corner of the world. I believe that the time will come when Ararat will not be a symbol of separation but will embody mutual understanding between the two peoples. However, I should specify the following: none of Armenian officials has ever presented territorial claims to Turkey. Turks themselves assign this to us, maybe due to acknowledgement of the guilt. We do not correlate the Genocide recognition with the opening of the border. And it is not our fault that the reconciliation does not take place. Turks permanently want us to yield, which is impossible. The execution of the NKR people’s right to self-determination is a very important issue. If Azerbaijan recognizes NKR independence, I think it will be possible to resolve the issue within several hours. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan is still thinking of regaining NKR, what, have no doubt, will result in total eviction of Armenians from Karabakh during a short period of time,” Mr. Sargsyan said.

He also reminded that the countries of former Yugoslavia managed to get independence. “Then why can’t Karabakh exercise the same rights? Is Azerbaijan’s oil and gas along with Turkey’s protection the only reason for it? In our opinion, this is unfair,” the Armenian President concluded.

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Monday, April 5, RA President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree appointing Ruben Karapetyan Armenia’s Ambassador to Italy with concurrent accreditation to Slovenia (residence in Rome.)

By another presidential decree, Armenia’s Ambassador to China Armen Sargsyan will also serve as Ambassador to Singapore (residence in Beijing).

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Cooperation with the European Union is one of priorities on Armenia’s foreign policy agenda, RA top diplomat said on April 6.

“The interest is mutual, what can be proved by frequent visit of EU officials to Armenia,” Edward Nalbandian said during a joint press conference with Stefan Fule, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and the European Neighborhood Policy.

“Mr. Fule’s visit is a good opportunity to discuss Armenia-EU agenda and ways to strengthen cooperation on the threshold of President Sargsyan’s trip to Brussels,” he said.

“The European Union is Armenia’s reliable political and economic partner. Thereat, we attach special importance to signing of a free trade agreement, relaxation of visa requirements and launch of negotiations on association agreement,” the Armenian Minister said.

He also voiced hope that Armenia-EU cooperation will develop within the Eastern Partnership initiative.

For his part, Mr. Fule noted that the European Union wishes stability and development for EU’s eastern neighbors. “We are glad that our cooperation with Armenia is developing gradually and reaches a new level. I hope that talks on association agreement will start in near future and I hope that a part of this agreement will be the so-called economic integration, that is deep and comprehensive free trade agreement, a strong tool that the EU offers to Armenia to help it integrate in European markets. We also touched upon the support the EU renders to reform process in Armenia,” he said.

As to the new visa code, Mr. Fule said it was made “to provide EU partners with more transparency and predictability.” “It’s an important step to unifying with the European countries. I am hopeful that the new visa code will be helpful for Armenian citizens,” he said.

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Discussion of the draft law submitted by the ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group on announcing April 24 a Day of Fatherland’s Demands is postponed for 30 days.

Tuesday, April 6 PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent in the parliament reported that although the project got a negative inference from the Standing Committee on Education, Science and Youth Affairs, the ARFD insists on including the draft law in the spring session agenda.

Head of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group Galust Sahakyan noted during the debates that April 24 is already marked by the Armenian people as a day of commemoration and grief and there is no need to attach another name to it.

Meanwhile, ARF Dashnaktsutyun representative Artyusha Shahbazyan stated that the RPA “has forgotten the values professed by Garegin Nzhdeh that are fixed in the party's program.”

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Tuesday, April 6, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule said that the European Union is ready to facilitate the process of the Armenian-Turkish protocols ratification without any preconditions. The EU is ready to contribute to the development of frontier regions, as soon as the Protocols are signed and come into force, Stefan Fule said during a joint press conference with RA Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian. At the same time, he highly appreciated the activity and courage of the Armenian President who agreed to establish a dialogue with Turkey. According to Fule, the restoration of the Armenian-Turkish relations may have a positive impact also on Turkey's bid for EU membership.

Referring to the process of the NKR conflict settlement, Fule said that the EU not only supports the OSCE Minsk Group activity, but also is ready to develop certain programs for restoration of trust both in Nagorno Karabakh and in the region.

RA Foreign Minister, in turn, noted that Armenia's position concerning the NKR status recognition has not changed. “Both Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs understand that the Karabakh people's right to self-determination is the main issue in the Karabakh conflict settlement,” said Nalbandian, commenting on possible change in the country's position towards the NKR status recognition. According to Mr. Nalbandian, within this context, the Armenian President's statement that it will be possible to resolve the conflict during a couple of hours, if Azerbaijan recognizes the NKR independence, implies right this. “If this main issue is resolved, it will be much easier to discuss the others,” noted Nalbandian.

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Tuesday, April 6, Head of the Analytical Center for Globalization and Regional Cooperation Stepan Grigoryan said that the threat of resumption of hostilities in Karabakh exists, increasing periodically.

“Azerbaijan’s threats to use of force have nothing to do with the Karabakh conflict. They target Armenia-Turkey rapprochement process. Opening of Armenian-Turkish border will be deadly for Azerbaijan,” Mr. Grigoryan stated during a joint news conference with political scientist Alexander Manasyan.

Yet, according to him, Karabakh conflict will not be resolved unless the superpowers reach agreement on the issue. “The European Union is interested in resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Russia is not, Obama remains undecided on South Caucasus policy,” Mr. Grigoryan noted.

For his part, Alexander Manasyan said that Baku will not venture a new war without permission of the major world powers.

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Tuesday, April 6, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno-Ocampo, who arrived in Armenia to participate in 37th forum of International Federation of Human Rights. Genocide prevention is the first priority to International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno-Ocampo emphasized during the meeting. The parties discussed collaboration possibilities, as well as ICC assistance in providing increased security for Armenia, presidential press service reported.

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On April 6, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met Souhayr Belhassen, President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), within 37th FIDH forum framework.

During the meeting, RA President gave high assessment to Armenia -FIDH collaboration and welcomed the idea of hosting the forum in Yerevan. Armenian leader also commented on the progress in human rights sphere Armenia saw over the recent years.

“Today, Armenia’s capital city has become human rights capital,” Souhayr Belhassen said, emphasizing the historic importance of the forum.

In conclusion, FIDH President expressed a hope for further development of collaboration with Armenia, presidential press service reported.

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About 600 people gathered at Matenadaran ancient manuscripts museum for a sanctioned ANC rally on April 6. Only a few police officers were present at rally site, PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent reported.

The rally was opened by a member of PPA, Grigor Harutyunyan, with ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrossian, Levon Zurabyan, Ararat Zurabyan, Stepan Demirchyan., Hovhannes Igityan, David Shakhnazaryan, Hrant Baghratyan and Alexander Arzumanyan present.

The rally was held under the “Freedom to political prisoners” motto.

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Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met Wednesday, April 7 with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule to discuss impending negotiations on association agreement, conclusion of a free trade agreement and relaxation of visa requirements.

“Your visit is a perfect opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest. European integration is one of priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy and we are interested in strengthening cooperation with the EU,” the Armenian President said.

Mr. Fule said for his part that relations with Armenia are reaching a new level. He also commended the activity of the EU Advisory Group to Armenia.

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There’s no sense in referring to other problems unless the status of Nagorno Karabakh is determined, according to Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

“Affirmation of Nagorno Karabakh people’s right to self-determination is the main point in talks,” he told a news conference in Yerevan on April 7.

“Madrid Principles are still serving as a basis for negotiations and the OSCE Minsk Group will continue proposing solutions until the conflicting parties reach a comprehensive agreement,” Minister Nalbandian said.

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The ongoing process between Armenia and Turkey is unfavorable for the RA but withdrawal from it would be extremely inexpedient, according to Hovhannes Igityan, chairman of the Armenian National Movement board.

“If the international community brings more pressure on Armenia and Turkey, both will ratify the protocols. Nevertheless, Armenia and Turkey are still unprepared to normalize relations and open the border,” he told reporters in Yerevan on April 7.

As to the forthcoming Sargsyan-Obama meeting in Washington D.C., Mr. Igityan that the U.S. President will try to urge Armenia upon concessions over Karabakh to inspire Turkey to take action towards normalization.

Commenting on the Karabakh issue, he said that the OSCE is determined to resolve the conflict in favor of Azerbaijan.

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Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian received Special Envoy of the Turkish Prime Minister and Turkish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Feridun Sinirlioglu, who arrived in Yerevan on April 7. Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations was in the focus of discussion.

The Armenian Minister confirmed the international community's position, which states that Armenian-Turkish normalization and ratification of Protocols should take place without preconditions. Mr. Nalbandian noted that efficient steps are expected from Turkey.

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Wednesday, April 7, commenting on the visit of Turkish Prime Minister's Special Envoy Feridun Sinirlioglu to Armenia, Armenian Turkologist Artak Shakaryan said that during his visit Sinirlioglu will discuss the upcoming meeting of the Armenian President and Turkish Prime Minister in Washington. Shakaryan also noted that Sinirlioglu is the first high-ranking official of Turkey, who visited Armenia after the signing of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols in Zurich on October 10, 2009.

The Armenian expert stressed that Sinirlioglu was in the US at the beginning of this week. “Probably, he wanted to clarify the stance of Washington with respect to the Armenian-Turkish process,” Shakaryan said.

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On April 7, the Special Envoy conveyed a written message of the Turkish Prime Minister, as well as President Abdullah Gul’s verbal message to the Armenian President.

“Armenia expects practical steps on behalf of Turkey that would allow for normalization of bilateral ties without preconditions and help achieve a breakthrough in the negotiations,” Mr. Sargsyan said. The Turkish diplomat in turn noted that Turkey is ready to secure soonest ratification of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols.

Sinirlioglu also conveyed an offer about Erdogan's and Sargsyan's meeting in Washington within the framework of global nuclear security summit due on April 12-13.

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Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said on April 7 that Azerbaijan has repeatedly accepted Karabakh as a party to negotiations on Karabakh conflict resolution – both de facto and de jure, as Azerbaijan signed ceasefire agreement with NKR. The sooner Karabakh returns to the negotiations process, the more the process will gain, Mr. Nalbandian said during a governmental hour in RA parliament, answering the question of Artak Zakaryan, Republican Party parliamentary group member.

Meanwhile, commenting on the question of Stepan Safaryan, the head of Heritage parliamentary group, about possible trilateral meeting between Sargsyan, Obama and Erdogan, Nalbandian said that no offer as to the meeting was received. According to him, currently, possible Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting is being discussed. “Rumors on the possibility of Karabakh issue being discussed at Sargsyan -Erdogan meeting are untrue,” the Foreign Minister stressed.

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On April 7, Armenian parliament rejected the draft law submitted by the ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group on making changes in the RA Law on International Treaties and amending the RA National Assembly’s regulations.

The legislative initiative of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun envisaged the following: parliament’s right to reservations during ratification of international treaties, the right to withdrawal from an agreement, if it contradicts the country’s interests, as well as the right to initiate a suspension or termination of an international agreement.

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Armenia's first President and leader of the Armenian National Congress Levon Ter-Petrossian met with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule on April 7.

Armenia's cooperation with the EU, the Karabakh conflict settlement and Armenian-Turkish rapprochement were in the focus of discussion.

The parties also referred to the current situation in human rights and democracy in Armenia, specifically, to political prisoners’ release.

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Azeri captive Rafik Hasanov was transferred to Azerbaijan on April 7, 2010. Hasanov, who crossed the border on October 8, 2008, explained his deed by the intolerable conditions in the Azeri army. The transfer, which took place near the settlement of Yeraskhavan at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, was negotiated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

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During a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister’s envoy Feridun Sinirlioglu on April 7, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan accepted the offer to meet with Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, RA President’s spokesman Armen Arzumanyan told PanARMENIAN.Net

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Armenian President’s meeting with Turkish Prime Minister in Washington may have a positive effect on the rapprochement process, according to a member of the Republican Party of Armenia, (RPA).

“I don’t suppose that April 24 is the deadline for ratification of Protocols. It’s incorrect to set terms when neither the state systems nor nations are prepared for reconciliation,” Artak Zakaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter during a news conference in Yerevan on April 8.

“The Armenian-Turkish process will be ruined if the sides fail to find common ground. Diplomatic terms for ratification of Protocols have expired, however, the mechanism of ‘reasonable political terms’ is still in order.

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There is a high possibility of resumption of hostilities in Karabakh, as the talks reached a deadlock, according to Major General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan, Commandos.

“The conflicting parties are trying to merge irreconcilable contradictions – the principle of territorial integrity and the right of nations to self-determination. Additional tension is created by the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement process. At that, failure of the dialogue will increase the possibility of war,” he said when responding to a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter’s question during a press conference on April 8.

“Azerbaijan and Turkey have been coordinating their foreign policies since 1919. I can’t say for sure that war will start this May but it will start anyway - if not this year, then next year for certain,” Commandos said.

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The efficiency of the Armenian army guarantees security of Armenian and Karabakh people, said Major General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan, Commandos.

“The efficiency of any army is determined by experts’ assessments but not by self-laudation. Our army is assessed highly. As to the Azeri army, it was a mistake of Azerbaijan’s leadership to reorganize the armed forces for three times,” he told a news conference in Yerevan.

He also noted that Armenian army is monoethnic unlike that of Azerbaijan, where national minorities are oppressed.

“Not weapons but the spirit is the most important factor. We struggled for independence in hard conditions but we were strong. Besides, we can manage military hardware. Our armed forces can parry provocations and rebuff any attack,” the Major General said.

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Chairman of the Labor Party of Armenia, entrepreneur Gurgen Arsenyan stated that Armenia’s national initiatives have failed during the past 300 years.

“To achieve success, Yerevan should present its interests in a state format, as it’s done by Ankara and Baku,” he told reporters on April 8. “People’s security should be a priority for Armenia.”

Commenting on the Armenian-Turkish relations, he said these resemble a minefield. “We should be extremely careful to prevent explosion while the process of ratification of Protocols is going on both in Armenia and Turkey,” he said.

Dwelling on the domestic situation, Mr. Arsenyan said that the authorities and opposition should demonstrate political will. “The President should declare new amnesty and release people who were arrested for their political views,” he said, adding that his party doesn’t support the idea of extra elections in Armenia.

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International nuclear security summit is scheduled for April 12-13 in Washington, with a meeting planned between Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the course of the summit.

There’s noting unexpected about Serzh Sargsyan’s agreeing to meet the Turkish Premier in Washington, Heritage parliamentary group leader Stepan Safaryan said on April 9.

As he told a news conference in Yerevan, “Armenia can’t withdraw from reconciliation as it’s not the only participant of rapprochement process. Any steps in this direction could entail negative consequences.”

“Still, despite possible attempts to present the meeting as a step towards reconciliation, Armenia-Turkey Protocols ratification process has already exhausted itself,” Stepan Safaryan emphasized.

Orinats Yerkir parliamentary group leader Heghine Bisharyan, however, characterized the oncoming meeting as a signal of readiness to ratify protocols without preconditions.

“Armenian leader’s agreement to meet Prime Minister Erdogan proves that RA government’s initiative policy is open to consider any solutions proposed,” ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group leader Artsvik Minasyan stated.

“Turkey will attempt to push forward the rapprochement process, as well as Karabakh issue, aiming to work on fulfillment of its precondition on Karabakh settlement,” he emphasized.

RPA parliamentary group leader Galust Sahakan stressed that RA President’s meeting with Turkish Prime Minister enables Turkey to demonstrate its interest in proceeding with reconciliation.

Still, as he noted, reasonable time –frames, stipulated for Armenia-Turkey ratification have long been expired, so even now, Armenia is ready to withdraw its signature. “Armenia, however, has to pick a favorable time to do so,” he concluded.

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The U.S. needs an uninterrupted Armenian-Turkish process till April 24, an Armenian expert said.

“To prevent failure of the dialogue, the U.S. exerts pressure on both countries. It’s notable that Azerbaijani President was not invited to the Nuclear Security Summit. This move signals to Armenian political elite on the isolation of Karabakh conflict from Armenian-Turkish relations,” Director of Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan told a news conference on April 9.

He presumed that Washington will probably ask Ankara for a partial opening of the Armenian-Turkish border but excluded a possibility of ratification of Protocols before April 24.

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Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said that the possibility of resumption of hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh has always persisted.

“The threat of resumption of hostilities will persist until stability is established in the region,” Mr. Sargsyan told journalists in Tavush region on April 9.

At the same time, he noted that the danger of war becomes more substantial for the Armenian people in two cases – when Azerbaijan, having no other way to resolve the problem, resorts to militaristic statements, and when internal political forces exploit this issue. “I do not know what makes Baku use the language of threats, as I do not see its superiority over us,” President Sargsyan said, adding that he does not see the threat of a new war in the near future.

Referring to the current negotiation process over the Karabakh conflict settlement, the Armenian President estimated it as “normal.” “I have repeatedly stated that the key to the Karabakh conflict settlement is in our hands,” he said, adding that if the issue on the NKR people's right to self-determination is settled, it would be much easier to address the others.

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Armen Martirosyan, Chairman of the Board of Heritage party, said that no progress has been recorded in the country since Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s inauguration two years ago.

“Those, who are guilty of 10 people’s death during the March 1, 2008, tragic events, have not been revealed, all political prisoners have not been released, while the judicial system of the country continues implementing political orders,” Martirosyan said during a briefing in the RA National Assembly on April 9.

In her turn, head of Orinats Yerkir parliamentary group Heghine Bisharyan noted that during Serzh Sargsyan's presidency the tense internal political situation in Armenia, conditioned by the March 1 events, has rather alleviated. Besides, Armenia has recorded an unprecedented progress in the foreign political sphere, she noted.

“The tense internal political situation was alleviated over two years, but due to a change in Armenian citizens’ attitude towards the reality and not due to the leadership’s efforts,” member of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group Artsvik Minasyan said during the briefing.

According to Minasyan, despite the relatively stable internal political situation in the country, the situation is extremely tense in the foreign policy sphere with respect to the Armenian President's initiative policy. “The tense situation in the foreign political sphere may have a negative impact on the internal situation in Armenia,” he noted.

Member of Prosperous Armenia parliamentary group Naira Zohrabyan noted that Armenia has recorded a progress in the foreign political sphere, as normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations has switched onto a normal track and active negotiations are conducted over the Karabakh conflict settlement. She also said that the tense internal situation was rather alleviated over two years. “The President made a huge contribution to it, as he discusses the most important issues not only in Armenia, but also in the Diaspora,” she noted.

Head of the Republican Party parliamentary group Galust Sahakyan said that during Serzh Sargsyan's presidency Armenia's positions have significantly strengthened in the foreign political sphere. “Recently, issues related to Armenia were always discussed at major international forums. In other words, the international community already understands Armenia’s problems,” he stressed.

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Friday, April 9 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said that Armenia has almost adopted its resolution on the Armenian-Turkish Protocols. The Armenian side will submit its resolution for public discussion, as soon as it is confident in its correctness, Mr. Sargsyan told journalists in Tavush region. “In this case, it is very important to adopt a correct decision, but it is too early to discuss it,” the President said.

At the same time, he refrained from commenting on the upcoming visit to Washington to participate in global nuclear security summit.

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Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had a phone conversation with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on April 9. Mr. Sargsyan once again expressed condolences on recent subway blast Russia.

Armenian leader thanked his Russian counterpart for the invitation to take part in the events devoted to the 65th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Parties also discussed the possibility of oncoming meeting.